Ending bullying not an easy task

Public school board seeing progress courtesy of restorative practices and Power to Change program

Peterborough This Week

(KAWARTHA LAKES) Bullying at schools is something that won't be solved overnight, but the local public school board is seeing some gains courtesy of its restorative practices.

Concerns regarding the practices and bullying were brought forward during a recent Trillium Lakelands District School Board meeting by trustee Bruce Reain who had read an article in his local paper - the Huntsville Forester - where a local high school student shared his story of being bullied. Mr. Reain also noted the suicide of bullied teen Amanda Todd certainly "hit the radar in a very big way."

Mr. Reain inquired about the progress of the board's three-year restorative practices program, which was launched in 2010.

Director of education Larry Hope, who helped bring the program to the local board, said all board administrators were trained when the program was first introduced, followed by staff. By the end of November, it is anticipated every staff member will be trained in the board's restorative practices, with plans to also train educational assistants, and possibly office and custodial staff. New staff will be trained as they are hired.

Mr. Hope said the program is seeing success to various degrees.

In some classes, community circles - where students are given an opportunity to speak freely - occur daily while, in other instances, they have been used for progressive discipline - another way of dealing with negative behaviour than traditional suspensions. Three such circles have been held this year.

Mr. Hope said rolling out the program has been a long process and never expected to be an instant solution to such problems as bullying in schools.

"But we have no intention of walking away," said Mr. Hope, noting a big piece of the puzzle has been monitoring situations while also offering support and professional assistance to parents. "We have put the tools in the administrators' hands. They're the best ones to deal with the individual issues at their schools."

The board's Power to Change program - a weekend-long camp led by staff at the Me to We Leadership Academy that empowers at-risk youngsters and youth to take control over their behaviour - is also seeing positive results.

Mr. Hope also told trustees that the board's recently developed Report Bullying button on its website is being used. "I wish I could stand in front of you and say this [bullying] doesn't happen in our schools - it does," he said.

Dianna Scates, superintendant of information technology, said there have been 602 files collected since the link was developed.

Ms Scates noted many of the files were created by teachers showing students how to use the site, but assured trustees the board responds to every instance reported through the site. She will provide a more detailed response to trustees at a later date; coming on the heels of International Anti-Bullying Week (Nov. 18 to 24).